Prostate Cancer Treatment Options
Prostate Cancer Treatment by Stage
Early Stage Prostate Cancer
Men with early stage prostate cancer have many treatment options. The treatment that's best for one man may not be the best for another. You may receive a combination of treatments.
Treatment Options
- Active Surveillance
- Brachytherapy (Seed Implants)
- CyberKnife
- External Radiation
- Hormonal Therapy
- Robot-Assisted Prostatectomy
The treatment that's right for you depends mainly on
- Your age
- Grade of the tumor (Gleason score)
- Number of biopsy tissue samples that contain cancer cells
- Stage of the cancer
- Your symptoms
- Your general health
Your doctor will describe your treatment choices, the expected results of each and the possible side effects. You and your doctor will work together to develop a treatment plan that meets your medical and personal needs. You may want to talk to your doctor about taking part in a clinical trial, a research study of new treatment methods.
Late Stage Prostate Cancer
Treatment of patients with locally advanced prostate cancer (Stage T3 or T4) is radiation therapy with or without HDR interstitial therapy, androgen ablation plus external radiation or radical prostatectomy (radical prostatectomy is a surgical procedure which removes the entire prostate gland, as well as some surrounding tissue), with or without androgen deprivation (androgen is male hormone; the most common of which is testosterone. It has been shown there is a connection between androgen and the production of some forms prostate cancer cells).
Quality of Life
Treatment for early stage prostate cancer is highly effective. In some cases, it can also be associated with temporary or long-term side effects related to urinary, sexual or bowel/rectal concerns. These effects vary with age and type of treatment. Post-treatment care, when needed, may include urinary and sexual rehabilitation services.